Antiochian Women of St. Andrew's
Antiochian Women of the East - North American Board
Antiochian Women Prayer
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
O Christ our God, we are all pledged to serve You with our whole being. Help us to continue to work for You through our Church without seeking praise, without seeking personal gain, without judging others, without a feeling that we have worked hard enough and now must allow ourselves rest. Give us strength to do what is right and help us to go on striving and to remember that activities are not the main thing in life. The most important thing is to have our hearts directed and attuned to You. Amen.
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
O Christ our God, we are all pledged to serve You with our whole being. Help us to continue to work for You through our Church without seeking praise, without seeking personal gain, without judging others, without a feeling that we have worked hard enough and now must allow ourselves rest. Give us strength to do what is right and help us to go on striving and to remember that activities are not the main thing in life. The most important thing is to have our hearts directed and attuned to You. Amen.
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Monastery Visit - March 2020
Monastery Musing #1
Susana Owens, Mary Ann Bulko, and I (Kh. Vera) set out on the morning of Wednesday, March 11, to spend two days at the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City, PA, and to travel from there to the Antiochian Women’s Retreat at Antiochian Village on the weekend. Halfway to the Monastery, we learned that the retreat was canceled. We continued to the Monastery and decided to extend our stay through the weekend. We are grateful we were able to do this, since space in their guest house is limited, and it just so happened that a group scheduled for the weekend had canceled their visit.
When we made our decision to stay beyond the planned two days, one of the Mothers told me, “You made the right decision. Two days at the Monastery is good, but after three days, you can really rest and feel the peace.” And she was right. They gave us the service schedule and told us to attend as we chose. We attended church and we rested. We had a tour and learned about the founding Abbess, Mother Alexandra, who was Princess Ileana of Romania. We walked the extensive and beautiful grounds, taking a trail to a waterfall. We spoke with the nuns and shared our stories. We ate with them for some meals, and by ourselves in the guest house for others. (The food was wonderful. This is Lenten? Yes.) We visited the cemetery, which included the graves of Mother Alexandra and others, including the well-known teacher and writer, Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko. We met and spent some time with Anne Hopko, Fr. Thomas’ widow, whom Mary Ann knew well from many years ago. We shopped in the gift shop. And while we were there the coronavirus caused our local, state, and federal governments to declare mandates or lay down stronger recommendations and caused the various Orthodox jurisdictions to establish policies and guidelines for the churches. And we were reminded to pray for each other and the whole world. We returned home to a very changed situation from what we left, but strengthened in our bodies, souls, and spirits to face whatever the Lord sends our way. - Kh. Vera Acker Monastery Musing #2
The recent visit to The Holy transfiguration Monastery was very restful, prayerful, and beautiful. The Abbess, Mother Christophora, shared a metaphor that the psalms for them are great comfort and soothed their souls like the gentle waves at our beaches. She also mentioned that as Orthodox, our faith comes from our hearts. There is much mystery in our faith; it is not just an intellectual response. The sisters and mothers were very hospitable and kind and we were encouraged to enjoy and rest. I'm thankful I had the opportunity to experience this spiritual place and their ministry.
- Susana Owens |
Monastery Musing #3
To be ‘transfigured’ means to transform or alter radically something or someone, according to my dictionary. When Jesus shone with radiance on the mountain before Apostles James, John, and Peter, they were transfixed. Similarly, in a sense, three women sojourners, Khouria Vera, Susana Owens and Mary Ann Bulko, experienced a ‘place of verdure’ within the confines of the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration.
Ellwood City, PA is a distant drive from Lewes, DE. Yet the bucolic scenery is rich with mountains and pastures where sheep and goats graze freely. As we entered the ninety-six-acre property, we noticed the cemetery to the right of us. Therein are departed clergy and other beloved servants of the Lord, including the priest - Very Rev. Fr. Thomas Hopko. The new Guest House further up the road is truly a comfortable place of respite and fortified with many books for visitors of all ages. A bit further still, one reaches the main complex with its large church, chapel, refectory, library and gift shop. Icons are plentiful on many walls and ceilings captivating one’s eyes. An outdoor partially enclosed pavilion serves as a church during summer months accommodating larger crowds. Abbess Christophora along with the Mothers and Sisters offer prayers and hospitality to all seekers, pilgrims, and retreaters. We participated in various liturgical services, both with rejoicing and with sober solemnity. A particular offering, new to us, took place on All Souls Saturday. On a table was a large glass bowl of koliva with a tapered candle on top. Four Mothers placed the tips of their fingers around the bowl. Behind them stood more Monastics with their hands gently touching the shoulders of the inner circle. Other lay worshippers formed another circle around them touching backs and shoulders creating a circular dome. We then sang the hymn for departed loved ones. It was a truly spiritually comforting and emotionally moving experience for all! In essence with one voice we became the One Body of Christ, the Church, in all Her fullness and Glory – the transfigured! - Mary Ann Bulko |